Steam-generator.



G. G. WORTHINGTON.

STEAM GENERATOR. APPLICATION FILED JAN.2'!, 1009.

1,040,481. Patented Oct. 8, 1912.

a Q i 5 COLUMBIA PLANOORAPII C0,.WASNINGTON. D. c.

ren and State drawings.

25 tained 40 tical cross sectional View CHARLES C. WORTHINGTON, 0F DUNNFIELD, NEW JERSEY.

STEAM-GENERATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 8, 1912.

Application filed January 2'7, 1909. Serial No. 474,585.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES C. WORTH- ING'PON, a citizen of the United States, residing at- Dunnfield, in the county of \Varof New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Steam-Generators, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying This invention relates to that class of steam generators known as flash or semiflash boilers in which the feed water passes to the boiler about as the steam is withdrawn from it and is vaporized as it is brought in contact with the surfaces of the boiler which have been heated to a high temperature.

The object of my invention is to provide an improved horizontal boiler of the flash or semi-flash type using fluid fuel which can be constructed and repaired at a minimum cost; which shall be free from all tendency to prime or to pass any of the water conin the boiler to the engine before it has been vaporized; which shall. contain the maximum amount of heating surface for the amount of space it occupies, and which shall also be capable of attaining as high an economic efliciency as any of its type.

The invention consists in the novel design and construction of the generator as set forth and described in the followlng specification and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 shows a central vertical section of an improved generator constructed in accordance with the principles of this invention. Fig. 2 shows a vertaken on line 22 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail elevation of the heat deflector or baffle plate.

In the present exemplitication of the invention, A designates a acket or casing constrncted of any suitable material such as sheet metal or the like, and which may be of any desired configuration but is preferably cylindrical in form, and lined with asbestos or other heat non-conducting material A.

tube of a heater, such as B is the mixing in which the fuel is a burner or the like, mixed with the an.

C is a combustion chamber, which is prefera-lily formed as a portion of the casing A. and depends from and has communication with the casing. This chamber preferably increases in size from the point where it joins the casing toward the lower or free end, adjacent which latter the heater or burner is arranged.

A batlle plate or heat deflector is arranged within the casing A, preferably at a point intermediate the ends thereof and may be secured in position in any desired or suitable manner, preferably by b-'ng secured to the upper portion of the casing. This casing A is preferably sectional in construction and divided longitudinally on the line A so that one section thereof may be removed and when so removed the baffle plate or heat deflector will also be removed.

E is a continuous tube, preferably formed in a series of coils, in which the feed water is vaporized and superheated. This tube is arranged within the casing A so that the outlet end thereof will be adjacent and extend across the opening with which the combustion chamber C has communication so that when the products of combustion rise to enter the cylinder they will directly ongage the tube at the outlet end thereof in a direction transversely to the direction of flow of the fluid in the tube. After entering the casing A the products of combustion will be deflected toward the inlet end of the tube to travel in a direction opposed to the direction of flow of the fluid 1n the tube. The tube E is arranged to form a series of upright coils and may be supported and secured in position in the casing A in any desired or suitable manner.

F is the inlet through which the feed water is admitted and which is located at one end of the tube, preferably adjacent one end of the casing and at a point remote from the heater. is the outlet through which the steam issues, and is arranged adjacent the other end of the tube and the end of the casing adjacent the heater.

In all boilers of this type, in order to utilize the heat from the combustion chamber to the best advantage, it is essential that the heat shall be first brought in contact with that part of the tube containing the driest steam and farthest removed from that part of the tube into which the feed water enters, and that the direction in which the heat passes shall be such that it shall successively be brought in contact with the various sections of the continuous tube in the following order; first, the section containing the steam which can thus be superheated to the greatest advantage; second, the. section containing the water which has been heated to the point of vaporizing and lastly, the section containing the feed water as it enters and commences to flow through the tube. With the improved construction shown in this invention, the tube E in which the steam is generated is coiled vertically and so arranged that the water to be vaporized shall enter the tube at the point F farthest removed from the combustion chamber C and heater B, and flow through the successive coils so that it will be gradually heated and progressively and gradually vaporized and superheated during its passage through the tube. The combustion chamber C is of such size as to insure the full admixture and free combustion of the gases which passing first in contact with these sections of the tube containing the driest steam impinge against a baffle plate D, which is arranged to project between two adjacent coils in a downward direction from the top of the casing so as to deflect the gases which passing down and around the baflle plate and thence between the other sections of the tube, follow a general direction opposed to the flow of the liquid and steam through the tube. The coils of the tube are shaped to form an open space at the diametric center of each coil and these spaces are arranged to register. In order to prevent the products of combustion from passing directly through this space and at the same time permit the battle plate or heat deflector to extend only partially across the casing A and. terminate on a line adjacent the dividing line A of the casing, the b aille plate or deflector is provided with a projecting portion D depending from the lower edge thereof and across the space at the center of the coils thereby forming an obstruction to the direct passage of the said products at midlength of the tube. A deflector D is arranged at the inlet end of the tube and in line with the space at the center of the coil to deflect the heat against the coils and prevent it from passing directly out of the space. This deflector D may be supported in any desired or suitable manner but in such a manner as to be exposed and freely accessible when the upper section of the casing A is removed. By this arrangement of the tube the water is first brought to that part of the gene ator having the lowest temperature and where the products of combustion, having parted. with the greater proportion of their heat, are about to escape to the outside atmosphere through a suitable opening O in the bottom of the casing A at the forward end thereof. As the water continues to flow through the tube it successively passes through those sections of the tube which are in contact with the products of combustion at proportionally higher temperatures and after being vap0rized the steam leaves the tube through the coil immediately adjoining the combustion chamber, and at the point which is in contact with the products of combustion when at their highest temperature.

The tube is formed in a series of coils or sections, each section comprising a plurality of convolutions. The coils or sections are so formed that the convolutions of each alternate section will progress from the periphery toward the respective diametric centers thereof and the convolutions of the remaining sections will progress from the respective diametric centers toward the peripheries thereof. The convolutions at the diametric centers of each pair of coils, advancing from the inlet end of the tubes are connected, while the peripheries of the respective coils of each pair of coils, are connected respectively to the periphery of one of the coils of an adjacent pair of coils. By thus connecting the series of coils, it will be seen that the fluid to be vaporized will flow in one half of each convolution of each coil in a direction opposed to gravity and the fluid being thus trapped in each convolution or section of the tube will be pre vented from flowing by gravity through any one coil or section.

lVith an improved generator constructed in this manner, a complete separation is maintained between the water and the steam, which latter always collects in the section of tube nearest the combustion chamber, where it is superheated to the best advantage and all tendency of the water to be forced in advance of the steam and carried to the engine with the steam is avoided.

Another feature of the invention is that the coils are entirely separate from the shell forming part of the combustion chamber and also from that forming the outer casing, and the combustion chamber and burner are alsosupported independently of each other and in any suitable manner.

By the sectional construction of the casing A, if an examination of the coils is undertaken, the upper half of the casing A may be lifted off, fully exposing all the coils. If it is then desired to remove the coils, they may be lifted clear from their position by merely unfastening them from their supports and disconnecting the pipes which may be connected to the inlet and out let F and G. This feature of accessibility to the parts is an essential feature of this invention.

Another advantage to be derived from the design and construction of. the generator when made in accordance with this invention is that, if the tube be made long enough to contain the required amount of heating surface, the bending process may be-continuous from each coil to the next, thus assuring the great advantage of havin the generator consist of one continuous ant unjointed single tube.

Although in the present exemplification of the invention there is shown and described the preferred manner of carrying this invention into effect, it is to be understood that numerous changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of the several parts without departing from the spirit of this invention.

WVhat is claimed as new is 2- 1. In a horizontal generator, the combination with a continuous tube formed in a series of vertical coils, of a heater for heating the coils, said heater being arranged below the coils at one end of the series, and means for directing the products of combustion from the heater vertically against the adjacent coils and for deflecting the said products horizontally through the remaining coils of the series.

2. In a horizontal generator, the combination with a continuous tube formed in a series of vertical coils, of a heater for heat ing the coils, said heater being arranged below the coils at one end of the series, and means for directing the products of combustion from the heater vertically against the adjacent coils and for deflecting the said products horizontally through the remaining coils of the series, and in a direction opposed to the direction of flow of the fluid through the coils,

3. In a horizontal generator, the combination with a continuous tube formed in a series of parallel coils, each comprising a plurality of convolutions extending one above the other and in the same vertical plane, of a chamber surrounding the coils, and a heater adjacent the chamber, means for causing the products of combustion to rise from the chamber and vertically through the chamber to engage a portion of said series of coils and means for deflecting said products through the remaining portion of said series in a general direction contrary to the flow of thewater and steam in said coils.

4. In a horizontal generator, the combination with a continuous tube formed in a series of vertical coils, said series having an inlet at one end of the series and an outlet at the other end, of a casing surrounding the coils, said casing being provided with an opening below the coils adjacent the outlet end of the series, and being provided with a depending tubular portion surrounding the opening, and a burner disposed below said tubular portion whereby the products of combustion will be directed into the casing and directly against the coils adjacent the outlet end of the series.

5. In a horizontal generator, the combination with a continuous tube formed in a series of vertical coils, said series having an inlet at one end of the series and an outlet at the other end, of a casing surrounding the coils, said casing being provided with an opening below the coils adjacent the outlet end of. the series, and being provided with a depending tubular portion surrounding the opening, a burner disposed below said tubular portion whereby the products of combustion will be directed into the casing and directly against the coils adjacent the outlet end of the series, said casing serving to then deflect the products through the remaining coils in a direction opposed to the direction of flow of fluid through the coils.

G. In a horizontal generator, the combination with a continuous tube formed in a series of vertical coils, said series having an inlet at one end of the series and an outlet at the other end, of a casing surrounding the coils, said casing being provided with an opening below the coils adjacent the outlet end of the series, and being provided with a depending tubular portion surrounding the opening, a burner disposed below said tubular portion whereby the products of combustion will be directed into the cas ing and directly against the coils adjacent the outlet end of the series, and a battle plate within the casing intermediate its ends and projecting partially across the casing.

7. In a horizontal generator, the combination with a continuous tube formed in a series of vertical coils, said series having an inlet at one end of the series and an outlet at the other end, of a casing surrounding the coils, said casing being provided wit-h an opening below the coils adjacent the, outlet end of the series, and being provided with a depending tubular portion surrounding the opening, and a burner disposed below said tubular portion whereby the products of combustion will be directed into the casing and directly against the coils adjacent the outlet end of the series, a portion of said casing being removable whereby access may be had to the coils.

8. In a horizontal generator, the combination with a tube shaped to form a plurality of upright coils, said coils being shaped to form registering spaces at the center of the coils throughout the series, of a casing inclosing the coils, means for applying heat at one end of the series, means for deflecting the heat through the remaining coils, and means for preventing the direct passage of the heat through the said spaces.

9. In a horizontal generator, the combination with a tube shaped to form a plurality of upright coils, said co'ls being shaped to form registering spaces at the center of the coils throughout the series, of a casing inclosing the coils, means for applying heat at one end of the series, means for deflecting the heat through the remaining coils, and a baflie plate within the casing intermediate its ends, said battle extending partially across the casing and being provided with a projecting portion extending across the space at the center of the tube.

10'. In a horizontal generator, the combination with a continuous tube formed in a series of Vertical coils, said coils being shaped to form registering spaces at the center of the coils throughout the series, of a casing inclosing the coils, means for applying heat at one end of the series, means for deflecting the heat through the remaining coils, a baffle plate arranged toproject between the coils intermediate the ends of the series and partially across the adjacent coils, and a heat deflector arranged adjacent the said registering spaces at one end of the series.

11. In a horizontal generator, the combination with a continuous tube formed in a series of Vertical coils, said coils being Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each,

shaped to form registering spaces at the center of the coils throughout the series and having an inlet at one end of the series and an outlet at the other end of the series, of a casing inclosing the coils, means for heat ing the coils at the outlet end of the series, said casing serving to deflect the heat against the remaining coils from the outlet end toward the inlet and in a direction opposed to the flow of fluid in the coils, a heat deflector intermediate the ends of the series of coils and projecting across the space formed by the coils and partially across the adjacent coils and a heat deflector adjacent the space at the inlet end of the series of coils.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, on this seventh day of January A. D. 1909.

CHAS. C. WVORTHINGTON.

Witnesses:

' N. R. WORTHINGTON,

C. W. COLLIERE.

by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G." M 

